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Starting in 1964 with Seven Up, renowned director Michael
Apted has explored this Jesuit maxim. The original concept was to interview 14
children from diverse backgrounds from all over England, asking them about their
lives and their dreams for the future. Every seven years, Apted has been back to
talk to the same subjects, examining the progression of their lives. From cab
driver Tony to East End schoolmates Jackie, Lynn, and Susan and the
heart-breaking Neil, we see, as they enter their 40's, how close these subjects
are to realizing their ambitions. An extraordinary look at the structure of life
in the 20th century, The Up Series is, according to Roger Ebert, "an inspired,
almost noble use of the film medium. Apted penetrates to the central mystery of
life." The changes that occur to the original 14 (some of whom drop out of the project)
are among the most fascinating and often tragic ever recorded on film. Success,
failure, marriage and childbirth, poverty, illness--almost every possible
element of the human experience passes before Apted's camera. And while each of
the children's stories is riveting, the viewer will undoubtedly be gripped by
that of Neil, a shy boy who endures incredible hardships. A one-of-a-kind series
and sociological experiment, The Up Series is required viewing for not
only documentary fans but any viewer with a curiosity about and concern for
their fellow humans. The DVD set includes commentary by Apted on 42 Up. |
